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Soldiers Face Neglect, Frustration At Army's Top Medical Facility

Behind the door of Army Spec. Jeremy Duncan's room, part of the wall is torn and hangs in the air, weighted down with black mold. When the wounded combat engineer stands in his shower and looks up, he can see the bathtub on the floor above through a rotted hole. The entire building, constructed between the world wars, often smells like greasy carry-out. Signs of neglect are everywhere: mouse droppings, belly-up cockroaches, stained carpets, cheap mattresses....
- By Dana Priest and Anne Hull

Comments

Would someone please put these brave people on TV and let America see how much they have given. Let America see that Bush cares so much about our soldiers he lets them sleep in mouse droppings. The Dick n Bush show sent 10 BILLION dollars into a was zone and stole it now our soldiers sleep in SH*T. Thank you soldiers, Up-yours Bush and Cheney.

By ezwider420 | Feb 17, 2007 6:36:34 PM | Request Removal

Dont close Walter Reed.

By OldAtlantic | Feb 17, 2007 6:37:57 PM | Request Removal

Walter Reed is a family for these soldiers, their patients and its staff. Dont destory this family and this historic base. Building another hospital doesnt save money.

By OldAtlantic | Feb 17, 2007 6:39:25 PM | Request Removal

When John McCain tells us that there will be dire consequences if we do not prevail in Iraq, does that refer to a threat coming from over there, or from inside the United States?

By tobrien56 | Feb 17, 2007 6:42:18 PM | Request Removal

By Jingo, if we don*t keep creating more maimed veterans and letting them rot in places like this, then the Terrorists[tm] win! Support the Troops: Start More Elective Wars!

By youareidiots | Feb 17, 2007 6:48:37 PM | Request Removal

How can Bush and his allies claim to be for the troops and then propose a budget that cuts funding to the VA their health care? And this supposedly in a time of war?

By quyenthu | Feb 17, 2007 6:49:27 PM | Request Removal

Has Cheney ever visited Reed? Doubt it.

By hairguy01 | Feb 17, 2007 6:50:40 PM | Request Removal

We need to harken back to Lincoln to remind us of our responsibility: to care for him who shall have borne the battle.

By jhart | Feb 17, 2007 6:50:42 PM | Request Removal

Chalk up one more for the crooks and liars in the White House and Pentagon.

By lowdown | Feb 17, 2007 6:57:12 PM | Request Removal

THIS IS NOTHING NEW, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS THE AMERICIAN WAY. I ATTEND TREATMENT AT A VA MEDICAL FACILITY IN CINCINNATI, OHIO. OF COURSE THEY HIRE STAFF MEMBERS TO HELP THE SOLDIERS, MORE THAN THEY SPEND THE MONEY TO HELP SOLDIERS. AS FAR AS WASHINGTON IS CONCERNED, WALTER REED, IM SURE A LIBRARY WITH PROVEN COLLEGE PROFESSORS, WHO HAVE WRITTEN BOOKS, ARE MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO SOLDIERS AND THEIR ABILITY TO BECOME INDEPENDENT THAN HIRING OVERSEER WHO CARE MORE ABOUT A JOB POSITION AND THEMSELVES THAN THE CARE OF A FRUSTRATED AND DISABLE SOLDIER. THESE SOLDIERS HAVE ALREADY PUT IN THERE TIME AND NEED HELP WHILE THE PEOPLE THEY HIRE ARE NEW TO A GAME THAT THEY LEARN FROM THE CURRENT SOLDIERS AND BOOKS THAT THEY READ FROM PROFESSORS. I SAY BUILD A GREAT LIBRARY WITH GREAT LIBRARIANS WHO CARE ABOUT VETERANS ISSUES AND HIRE LESS STAFF MEMBERS. THERSE SOLDIERS ARE RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO DONT CONSTANTLY NEED TO BE DEALT WITH BY OVERSEERS, BUT THATS POLITICS. PLEASE HELP THE FALLEN AND CURRENT SOLDIER WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT FOR THE COMMANDERS OF THE COUNTRY TRYING TO UPHOLD AMERICAS FREEDOMS.

By cdante959 | Feb 17, 2007 6:58:16 PM | Request Removal

There is no excuse for this!!!!! I work in a homeless shelter in Hagerstown MD that is better than this and apparently has more to offer. I hang my head in tears for what is going on there in building 18.

By Hootmom001 | Feb 17, 2007 7:06:11 PM | Request Removal

God, this is sickening. How about posting the new SecDef in Bldg 18 till the problems get cleared up? Put Cheney in there too.

By hairguy01 | Feb 17, 2007 7:16:18 PM | Request Removal

Clearly, this treasonous article does nothing but undermine domestic support for the War and Embolden[tm] the Enemy[tm]! A different approach is needed. The President should expand the CIA *black sites* initiative and set up secure, clandestine hospital-cum-interrogation centers in remote, inaccessible locations, and route all future wounded vets and Enemy Combatants[tm] there. As dual-use facilities go, these would be a slam dunk, since there doesn*t appear to be much practical distinction in how we treat the two classes of clientele, or in how we regard the issue of public transparency. Dulce et decorum est pro patria vulnerari!

By youareidiots | Feb 17, 2007 7:18:12 PM | Request Removal

I saw the article advertised on the nightly news tonight - 2/17. After reading this I am appalled at the conditions that our wounded soldiers have to endure at Walter Reed especially since we are spending billions to help, rebuild and god knows what over in Iraq, Afghanistan and every other hell hole in the world. The White House and the President should be brought to task for these conditions. We cant even give these men clean, safe, pleasant surrounds as they try to recover and rebuild their lives. I hope to see the conditions improved and will follow this story. Maria Ginter, Albany, NY mgxero@yahoo.com

By mgxero | Feb 17, 2007 7:28:52 PM | Request Removal

Whats the deal with the FCUKING CAPS LOCK KEY. Enough already.

By robert7ii | Feb 17, 2007 7:31:41 PM | Request Removal

I remember many years ago that my dad said he would never go to a VA hospital. It appears from your article that this lack of proper treatment has permeated our military hospital system. These brave men and women deserve the best care possible. Living in the squaller you describe is unforgiveable. Why should they be expected to sacrifice further? Havent they done their duty? It brings tears to my eyes and fills me with saddness to think that these deplorable conditions only add to their trauma. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Is there anything we can do to help them? They deserve our gratitude and shouldnt have to be subjected to these conditions. Pete Svoboda Richmond, Virginia

By boda2803 | Feb 17, 2007 7:37:35 PM | Request Removal

What a sad story. It is obvious that the casualties from the Iraq war have overwhelmed the capacity of the institutions designed to care for them. And, it is another reminder that war is not a movie or a computer game.

By rkerg | Feb 17, 2007 7:42:47 PM | Request Removal

Compassionate conservatism at work. Let Walter Reed get in line--behind Halliburton, of course.

By branfo4 | Feb 17, 2007 7:43:47 PM | Request Removal

Shhh, youll embolden the enemy!

By open | Feb 17, 2007 7:47:10 PM | Request Removal

As a disabled Vet.60, I have heard GWB state many times that the Vets. will be taken care of to the end. But in the next few weeks after, cut funding for VA care, reduced spending for various programs and leaves the Vets. hanging in the breeze. Some of my peers will be heard saying, the Post is a liberal paper, and you cant believe what they print. All well and good, but if you believe only 25 of this article, Things are out of hand at Walter Reed,just like the rest of the government.

By jerryf01 | Feb 17, 2007 7:48:11 PM | Request Removal

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